Display package for hosiery and method



Oct. 10, 1961 J. M. RAMSAY, JR

DISPLAY PACKAGE FOR HOSIERY AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 22, 1959 INVENTOR duz. IUS M HHMS/VZ (/R.

BY am .M W ATTORNEYS Oct. 10, 1961 J. M. RAMSAY, JR

DISPLAY PACKAGE FOR HOSIERY AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 22, 1959 m T m M Oct. 10, 1961 J. M. RAMSAY, JR

DISPLAY PACKAGE FOR HOSIERY AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001;. 22, 1959 INVENTOR (JUL 11/: /7. Fins, JI.

WQM W' ATTORNEYS United States Patent 6 3,003,624 DISPLAY PACKAGE FOR HOSIERY AND METHOD Julius M. Ramsay, Jr., Asheboro, N.C., assignor to Burlington Industries, Inc., Greensboro, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 847,947 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-46) The present invention relates to display packages for hosiery, especially stretch socks, and to a method and structure used in preparing the package.

A principal object of the present invention is the provision of an improved form of hosiery display package.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attractive display package for stretch socks or the like, and compact in size to facilitate handling, storing and displaying.

An additional object is the provision of a novel method and means for use in preparing such a package.

Broadly stated, the package of the invention comprises a piece of sheet material including a body portion having flaps hingedly joined thereto and foldable to form with said body portion a sock enclosing and receiving zone, said body portion also having a cut-out portion therein, integral therewith, and adapted for insertion within the leg portion of a sock for display purposes.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The novel features of the invention may be best made clear from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a package blank embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 33 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view corresponding to FIGURE 1 and showing the leg portion of a sock fitted over the cut-out portion in the blank;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view showing an exemplary manner of arranging a pair of socks in the package formed from the blank shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a front view of a closed package formed from the blank shown in FIGURE 1 and containing a pair of socks;

FIGURE 7 is a rear view of the closed package;

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view of a device embodying the invention and designed to be used in preparing the package shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. A package blank is shown mounted on this device and a first sock is shown being fitted over the cut-out portion thereof;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the device of FIGURE 8 and showing the package blank arranged thereon.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG- URES 1-3 a container blank 10 embodying the invention and adapted to be folded in such manner, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow, to constitute a display container. Blank 10 may be formed of any suitable sheet material, such as cardboard, and it is shown as including an elongated body portion 12 of rectangular outline, with top 14, bottom 16 and side 18 flaps extending therefrom. A pair of spaced crease or score lines S is provided between each of these flaps and the body portion, these score lines operating to provide hinged joints when the flaps are folded over the body portion, as will be understood. And the spaces between the score lines S will therefore define end 20 and side 22 walls for the container formed from this blank.

The width of the end 20 and side 22 walls will be such, for example, one quarter inch or so, to provide a sock receiving zone or chamber when the flaps 14, 16, 18 are folded over the body portion. The dimensions of these flaps may be varied, but preferably is such that a closed container will be formed when the flaps are folded over the body portion. In the embodiment under consideration, the side flaps 18 will constitute the exposed back or rear surface of the container, however, it will be appreciated that these flaps may be folded over first to be disposed inwardly of or covered by the end flaps 14, 16, so that the latter flaps will constitute part or all of the exposed rear surface of the container.

Within the body portion 12, there is provided a cut-out portion 24 having a free end at 26 and being hingedly joined to the body portion along the crease or score line 28. In this embodiment, the cut-out portion 24 is of somewhat bottle-shaped configuration, integral with the body portion, and free to move in and out of the plane of the body portion in the manner indicated in FIG- URES l-3.

This cut-out portion 24 is intended to be inserted into at least a part of the leg portion of a sock, and, as shown, it comprises an elongated major part 30 of substantially uniform width, and a minor part 32 of progressively decreasing width, with shoulders 34 being defined at the junction therebetween. The part 30 will roughly approximate the width of the leg portion of the sock to be fitted thereover, and the shoulders 34 will serve to hold the sock in position on the insert 24, as will be apparent as the description proceeds. The free end 26 of the insert 24 is formed with cut-off corners to facilitate insertion thereof into a sock, and also to minimize strain on the sock and prevent any damage thereto.

An exemplary method of using the container blank 10 to provide a display package for socks will now be de scribed in detail, reference being made particularly to' FIGURES 4-7. As best seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, the leg portion L of one sock of a pair is fitted over the cutout insert portion 24, with the top T of the sock being positioned adjacent the hinge line 28 so that at least part of the leg L of the sock will be engaged or stretched my the major part 30 of the insert.

The foot portion F. of the sock and any of theleg portion thereof extending beyond the free end 26 of the insert 24 will be folded backwardly over the insert 24, for example, in the position thereof shown in FIGURE 4.

The second sock may then be folded over or superimposed on the first sock, as illustrated in FIGURE 5. The flaps 14, 16 and 18 are then bent or folded over, for example, as shown in FIGURE 5, and suitable means will be provided for holding these flaps in closed position. By way of example, a sticker bearing advertising indicia may be secured across the side flaps 18 for this purpose. Such a sticker is indicated in FIGURE 7 by reference numeral 36, and some suitable adhesive, such as glue may be utilized for applying same to the side flaps 18.

By reason of the arrangement of the first sock so that the cut-out portion 24 is disposed or inserted within the leg portion L thereof, as described, the front of the package has the appearance shown in FIGURE 6. The sock on this insert 24 will help to firmly retain the insert in the plane of the body portion 1'2, as a result of the wedging action of the sock between the side edges 38 of the insert 24 and the corresponding edges 40 in the body portion 12.

If desired, the package formed in the manner just described may be enclosed in cellophane or any other suitable wrapping.

It will be appreciated that after the first sock in the pair has been fitted over the insert portion 24, as shown, for example, in FIGURE 4, the second sock may be arranged so its leg portion L is fitted over the first sock and the insert 24. That is, the first sock which is already mounted on the insert 24, as shown in FIGURE 4, may be inserted into the second sock, so that the leg portion of the second sock completely encloses or surrounds either (1) the insert 24 and both the leg and foot portion of the first sock, or (2) the insert 24 and only the leg portion of the first sock, depending on whether the foot portion F of the first sock is in the position thereof shown in FIGURE, 4 or whether it is straight and unfolded at the time the second sock is fitted thereover. Thereafter, the foot portion of the second sock may be folded over the leg portion thereof, for example, in the manner indicated in FIGURE 5, so as to provide a compact arrangement of the socks when the flaps 14, 16, 18 are folded over, as described above.

Additionally, if desired, after the first sock is arranged on the insert 24, as shown, for example, in FIGURE 4, the second sock may be folded or gathered in any appropriate manner and then inserted through the top of the first sock and into the space between the rear face of the insert portion 24 and the adjacent face of the' leg portion L of the first sock fitted thereover, with the foot portion of the first sock then being folded over the leg portion, as previously discussed.

FIGURES 8 and 9 show a preferred form of apparatus for use in preparing the package shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. As shown, this apparatus comprises a base or stand 42 including a suitable laterally extending support 44. This support 44 may be attached to the base in any appropriate manner. For example, it may include a projection 46 arranged within a horizontal bore in the base 42 and held in position, as by a set screw 48.

Fixed to the support 44 and extending laterally therefrom in a substantially horizontal plane is a support plate 50, constructed of some suitable stifi or rigid material, such as metal. This plate 50, as best seen in FIGURE 9, is provided with a portion having substantially the same size and configuration as the cut-out insert portion 24, although the neck part of the support plate 50 is somewhat extended, for a purpose to become apparent as the description proceeds.

Also fixedly secured to the support 44 is a package supporting element 52, extending laterally and downward- 1y from the support 44, below the plate 50, as best seen in FIGURE 8. This element 52 may be of any suitable construction, such as wire or the like.

In using the apparatus of FIGURES 8 and 9, the package blank 10 shown in FIGURE 1 will be arranged on the support plate 50 so that the cut-out insert portion 24 will be resting on the plate 50 in superimposed relation to the portion thereof of similar configuration therewith. For the purpose of holding the blank 10 in this position, .a spring clip or clamp 54 is shown as being secured to the support 44 and projecting outwardly therefrom. As will be apparent, the top flap 14 of the blank 4 10 will be arranged between this clamp 54 and the top of the support plate 50.

With the cut-out insert portion 24 resting on the support plate 50, as referred to, the remainder of blank 10 will tend to bend downwardly, under its own Weight, for example, toward the position thereof shown in FIGURE 8, at which time the supporting wire 52 will prevent any further bending of the blank such as might impair or damage same.

The sock will then be slipped over the free end 26 of the insert 24, as indicated in FIGURE 8, and the remainder of the packaging operation will be carried out, such as by the various procedures set forth hereinabove.

The present invention will thus be seen to completely and effectively accomplish the objects enumerated hereinabove. It will be realized, however, that Various changes and substitutions may be made to the specific embodiments disclosed herein for the purpose of illustrating the principles of this invention, without departing from these principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claim.

What is claimed is:

A display package comprising: an oblong, one-piece blank having a front wall and symmetrically opposed side and end walls, back wall portions joined to said respective side walls and end walls folded to form a closed generally rectangular container wherein said back Walls are joined to one another to define the rear wall of the package, a longitudinally extending elongated cut-out portion in said front Wall extending over a major portion thereof and having an oblong portion merging at one end to an end portion which is pivotally joined to said front wall, said end portion being of tapered construction, a pair of socks arranged within said container, said cut-out portion being positioned within the leg portion of at least one sock of said pair, the Welt end of said one sock being received by said tapered end portion, whereby the leg of said sock is visible from the outside of the package, the foot portion of said one sock being folded over said leg portion within said package.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 17,177 Lengsfield Jan. 1, 1929 1,274,615 Sherwood Aug. 6, 1918 1,907,937 Levkofi May 9, 1933 2,371,841 Paulsen Mar. 20, 1945 2,709,518 Justin May 31, 1955 2,755,924 Tuttle July 24, 1956 2,824,414 Fieman Feb. 25, 1958 2,833,399 Hartman May 6, 1958 2,915,174 Barnhart Dec. 1, 1959 2,917,163 Baker Dec. 15, 1959 

